Materials Science and Engineering—MS, PhD

Fast Facts

Ranked among the best in the nation by US News & World Report

Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for their teaching, research,
and professional service. Many have received prestigious National Science Foundation
CAREER Awards and are recognized by professional societies.

Graduate Programs in Materials Science and Engineering

Materials science and engineering focuses on the synthesis, processing, properties,
and applications of engineering materials—from the production of primary metals to
the development of microelectronic nanomaterials with novel properties. Michigan Tech
granted its first PhD in Metallurgy in 1934 and remains a leader in research and graduate
education, now offering PhD and MS degrees in Materials Science and Engineering.

The graduate program offered by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering
provides an outstanding foundation for careers in research, academia, materials production,
and manufacturing. Current Michigan Tech undergraduate students can earn a MS degree
with just a single year of study beyond the BS through the Accelerated Master's Program.

Graduate students have the opportunity to study composite materials, ceramics, metals
and alloys, electronic and optical materials, and polymers. Research topics include
synthesis and processing of primary materials, thermodynamics and kinetics of microstructural
evolution, and material properties and performance, to name a few. Current research
spans the entire spectrum of materials engineering and involves more than twenty-five
government and industry partners. Students interact closely with automotive and primary
metals industry.

Master's Degree Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor.
The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research
topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could
complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters
following the completion of course work by regularly scheduling graduate research
credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Course work (minimum)

20 credits

Thesis research

6–10 credits

Total (minimum)

30 credits

Distribution of course work credit

5000–6000 series (minimum)

12 credits

3000–4000 level (maximum)

12 credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum numbers
of credits listed here.

Master's Degree Course Work Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through course work. A limited
number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department,
and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the
degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of course work credit

5000–6000 series (minimum)

18 credits

3000–4000 level (maximum)

12 credits

PhD Requirements

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all course work and research credits (see credit requirements below)

Pass Qualifying Examination

Pass Research Proposal Examination

Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation

Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements

MS–PhD (minimum)

30 credits

BS–PhD (minimum)

60 credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their
program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.